Welcome to AP Euro 10-11

Intro Info

I will be consistently monitoring this page. Check back often. If you need to contact me, click on "manage wiki" from the menu on the left side of this page and then click on my username, "ibleedgreen_gold" and then choose to send me a message.You can only do this after you have joined wikispaces, and only when signed into wikispaces. Alternatively, you can reach me at: sue.gregory@sausd.us with any questions you might have.

You might want to start off your true college prep experience by exploring the rest of the wikispace. You might even find some interesting stuff! You do not have to be a member of wikispaces or this wiki to do so. However, you will need to be a member to participate in the online discussion portion of the summer work.

Here are directions on how to join our wikispace, so that you can participate in the online assignment options: Joining SHS_APEH Wikispace 2010.pdf . Pay careful attention to the directions re: username. If you send me a request to join our site and you have not followed these directions, I will have to initially reject your request. You can then send another when you have remedied the username problem. Here's the bottom line: your username needs to be

• Lastname_FIRSTINITIAL. For example: Gregory_S (if it were me joining our site).
• If the system says that name is taken, add a one digit number at the end - that should work.

What am I supposed to get out of the summer assignment?
The expectations for reading in AP European History are very high. First, we expect you to actually complete the reading assignments. Crazy, I know! Most importantly, I expect you to understand the major concepts from the readings. Dates and dead guys may come in handy as details in an essay, but without an understanding of the big ideas, your ability to create an argument will fall flat. By meeting these two expectations your understanding of what is going on in class and your ability to participate in class discussions and activities will be dramatically improved. My hope is that you will come to class at the end of August with a better understanding of the broad sweep of European intellectual history, as well as a brief introduction to working online and reading techniques that you might find useful.

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APEH Summer Assignment #1: Sophie's World

Advice about reading this book: This book can be dense, that is, it can be hard to understand too much of it at one sitting. Give yourself a good three to four weeks to read it.

Assignment rationale: No book is ever written in a void. All authors belong to their historical time, and the beliefs and philosophies of their times often have an influence on their books. In order for us to have a more fully developed worldview, we read this novel, in which Jostein Gaarder hopes to teach us something about basic Western philosophy. If we have a basic grasp of philosophers’ questions, we will also have an understanding of historians’ questions. By improving your view of the history of thought, you will improve your overall view of history by default. Also it is always a good idea to improve our view of history in order that you have a more global, less solipsistic view of your own existence. [wondering, are you? ... well look it up - I use dictionary.com myself]

Book info: go HERE for the basics. You should be able to find this book in any local bookstore, although with several of you looking for it you might have to ask a clerk to order it for you. Also, it is available online. Or perhaps from a former student.

Assignment:

1. Choose two philosophies you disagree with and explain your reasoning in three to four paragraphs. Please choose one philosophy in the first half of the novel and one from the second half of the novel.
2. Choose two philosophies you agree with and explain your reasoning in three to four paragraphs. Please choose one philosophy in the first half of the novel and one from the second half of the novel.
3. Give ten general facts you learned reading the novel. Did any surprise you? Explain in 3-4 paragraphs.
4. Which philosopher do you want to learn more about in the first 200 pages? Why? Explain in 2-3 paragraphs. Which philosopher do you want to learn more about in the last half of the novel? Why? Explain in 2-3 paragraphs.
5. Write a 3-4 paragraph reaction to your experience with this novel. What did you like, not like, feel frustrated with, in awe of, etc.? Make references to specific sections of the book or specific passages.
6. You will also be required to answer, online, at least THREE of the discussion questions that I will be posting HERE at the wiki. Click the link; directions will be on that page.

Enlightenment is man’s leaving his self-caused immaturity. Immaturity is the incapacity to use one’s intelligence without the guidance of another. Such immaturity is self-caused if it is not caused by lack of intelligence, but by lack of determination and courage to use one’s own intelligence without being guided by another. Sapere Aude! Have the courage to use your own intelligence! Is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment (and this class!).

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APEH Summer Assignment #2: The Walking Drum

This summer assignment is meant to help, in an entertaining way, to reintroduce you to aspects of the Middle Ages, so that you will be able to make meaningful observations about how the Renaissance was not only a rebirth of the classical and a continuation of the medieval, but simultaneously the marking of the venture into the modern ages.

Book info: go HERE for the basics. You should be able to find this book in any local bookstore, although with several of you looking for it you might have to ask a clerk to order it for you. Also, it is available online. Still looking for a copy...? Here's a site that has used copies for a buck plus shipping.

There are two components of this assignment:

1. First, there will be online discussion questions for you to answer. You should attempt to respond to at least FOUR of the discussion questions that I will be posting HERE at the wiki. Click the link; directions will be on that page.** This will be extra credit to start the year with.
2. You will take a quiz on this book the first day of class. This is not extra credit; it's required.

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“It is often said that one has but one life to live, but that is nonsense. For one who reads, there is no limit to the number of lives that may be lived, for fiction, biography, and history offer an inexhaustible number of lives in many parts of the world, in all periods of time.” ~~ Louis L'Amour